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NEW DELHI/DHAKA: In a decision that underscores the importance New Delhi attaches to its diplomatic engagement with Dhaka, India’s new high commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi has been accorded status equivalent to Union cabinet minister.Soon after presenting his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Thursday, Trivedi — the first politician to serve in this position — announced resumption of travel visas for Bangladeshi nationals from all five visa application centres — Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Sylhet and Khulna. It was halted nearly two years ago amid deteriorating ties and the security situation during the Muhammad Yunus-led interim regime, which came into being after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster as PM in 2024.In an office memorandum, dated June 24, the home ministry said Trivedi “has been assigned the equivalent status of Union cabinet Minister in the Table of Precedence (ToP) as a measure personal to him, without amending the Table of Precedence”. ToP determines hierarchy for constitutional authorities, ministers, judges, diplomats and officials during state and ceremonial functions. The order clarified the status is meant “for ceremonial functions only”.The status — first for an envoy to Bangladesh — was earlier accorded to I K Gujral (USSR), Karan Singh (US) and Triloki Kaul (USSR) as ambassadors. Trivedi — a former Union minister and BJP veteran — succeeds Pranay Verma, a 1994-batch IFS officer.Briefing reporters after the presenting of credentials, Bangladesh President’s press secretary Md Sarwar Alam said Shahabuddin expressed hope that Trivedi’s tenure will further strengthen and deepen the mutually beneficial and people-centric relations between Bangladesh and India. In response, Trivedi said it is natural for the two sovereign nations to enjoy friendly and cordial relations, reflecting the long-standing bonds between the two countries.New Delhi’s decision to send the veteran politician to Dhaka comes at a time when both sides are looking at repairing the bilateral ties that came under severe strain after the 2024 developments.
